DETROIT, Mich., February 14, 2010 – The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) announced today that Dave Blaszkiewicz has been named its President and CEO. Blaszkiewicz, who is President of Invest Detroit, will serve in a dual role directing the operations of both organizations.
“Because the missions of the DDP and Invest Detroit coincide on so many levels, and because Dave has played a major and very effective role in efforts to generate new investment in Detroit, we believe Dave is the obvious person to assume this role,” said DDP Chair Cynthia J. Pasky. “Dave has been active in downtown Detroit for more than 20 years and he has the history and skill set we need as the DDP moves forward.”
Blaszkiewicz said, “This is a very exciting time in downtown Detroit, with major employers like Blue Cross, General Motors, Strategic Staffing Solutions, DTE Energy, Quicken Loans and Compuware significantly expanding their employment base and bringing new jobs here. The addition of corporate stakeholders and increased number of employees in the downtown will help drive planned initiatives and broaden the opportunities for the DDP’s involvement in moving downtown Detroit forward.
“I particularly see an opportunity to build on DDP’s strong working relationship with the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) and use that synergy to accelerate new investment in the downtown. Ann Lang has done a tremendous job of developing tools to generate new activity in the downtown and with the newly expanded board in place I look forward to strengthening existing relationships and building new ones.”
DEGC President and CEO George Jackson welcomed Blaszkiewicz’ appointment, saying, “This is a great appointment by the DDP Board. Dave brings a high level of professionalism to everything that he does and he definitely will help with the partnership that we have established to get things done in the city. At the same time, I want to commend Ann Lang for her outstanding work in getting the DDP to where it is today.”
Invest Detroit Board Chair Matt Cullen said Blaszkiewicz’ appointment, “makes great sense from every perspective. We already are working with the DDP on a number of fronts and Dave has both the skills and demonstrated leadership to make this a very effective arrangement.”
Blaszkiewicz has been President of Invest Detroit since he led the effort to create it in 2010. Invest Detroit is a leading source of private sector gap financing that utilizes both for-profit and non-profit funding tools targeted towards economic development opportunities primarily in the City of Detroit.
Prior to being named head of Invest Detroit he served as President of the Detroit Investment Fund, which is now a part of Invest Detroit. Blaszkiewicz joined Detroit Renaissance (now known as Business Leaders for Michigan) in 1990. In 1994 he facilitated the creation of the Detroit Investment Fund and became its president in 2001.
About Downtown Detroit Partnership: The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) is a private/public partnership of corporate and civic leaders. DDP engages business, government, and civic leaders in developing initiatives to strengthen Downtown Detroit’s employment, entertainment and residential assets, as well as advancing diversity, vitality and economic health for Southeast Michigan’s urban core. For more information, visit www.DowntownDetroit.org.
